Drag link for steering gears



F. P. WILLIAMS.

DRAGIINK FOR STEERING GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1921.

Patented May 30, 1922. I

' mvpvroge. 1 7 4721? 1715673247725 8 ATTORNEY.

' Be it known that I, FRANK UBTE jg p FRANK r. WILLIAMS, oann'morr, MICHIGAN.

DRAG- LINK FOR STEERING GEARS.

T all .10 item it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, inthe county oflVayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drag Links for Steering Gears of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to drag links for steeringgear or the same construction can be used in the connecting link between the two arms of the steering knuckles. It is the object of the present invention to provide; a link construction for steering gear which can be made in the formlof a stamping of triangular cross-section, thereby making for lightness of construction and economy in manufacture. These drag links are or-dinarily made of seamless tube with a larger tube fitted over each end to form the spring I housings of the yieldable universal joints.

ball part of the joint and spring.

"his construction is relatively more expen sive than the construction now about to be described.

In the drawin s,-' Fig. l is a fragmentary end of the drag link.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the other end of the d 'ag link. x

.Fig. 3 is a. section longitudinally of the drag link through either end. I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank from which the stamping is made.

elevation -of the Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken on the section line AA of Fig. 4, showing how the metal is formed up into the tubular ends of the drag link.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sections on the-line.

\ f Figy-l, showinghow the rodportion of the drag link is'fornied up.

i Fig. 10 is a perspective of the cap or plug for the end of the drag link.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of construction. As already explained. these drag links are ordinarily made out of seamless tube. A piece of seamless tube forms the rod portion while a second piece of seamless tubing of larger diameter is-fitted on the end of the rod portion to form a. receptacle for the. In place of this construction I blank out a sheet metal blank such as shown in Fig. 4 This comprises a straight strip portion a which ulti- P. WILLIAMS,

ball is a cup g.

against the cap or plugh and the other: is engaged by-the spiral compression spring 2' part of a 'turn.

-tions of the earsto Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ltlay 30, 1922,

1921'. Serial No. 473,092.

mately forms the rod portion of the link and the end portions 6. Each of these end portions is formed of a blank such as shown in Fig. 4, the side and ears (Z being at the end. This blank is then placed between suitable dies which forms up the end portion in the semi-circular shape shown in Fig, 5 and the rod portion into a rectangular shape such as shown in Fig. 7. The partially formed stamping is then placed in another set of suitable dies and the semi-tubular end portions are closed into a complete tube as shown in Fig. 6, while the rod-like portion is bent over into a triangular section,'as shown in Fig. 8. The fold of the lock-seam :r'may then be closed, as shown in Fig.,9. The'two recesses 0, 0 match together to form the slot through which engagesthe stem 6 that carries the ball Engaging each side 'of this One .of the cups abuts which pushes against: an abutment Z.

In place of the ordinary screw plug that goes into the end of the head of the drag link I can provide a plug or cap h which is simply a cup-like stamping provided the perforated ears These ears 7c are adapted to fit in between the folded-over ears kl when the plug has been inserted in the tubular head b and turned through a The cotter pins m may then be slipped through the registering perforalock the cap or plug in place. This assembly may easily be made after the steering gear is turnedto turn the wheels around to one extremeflfposition.

This relieyes the cup. 9 of all stress so that no trouble will befound in assembling the cap or plug into the end of the tubular head. Iln Fig. 11 I have shown the circular head portion of the link tapped and the usual screw plug in place. Here the cap 71 is used simply as a lock nut.

'l hetriangular section for the rod portion of the link makes the rod portion of the rod stronger so far as bending stressesare concerned for obviously it presents two walls widthwise to almost any bending stress, hence. 1s,.('ons1derably stronger than tube.

The triangular form may' also be easily formed up by dies and folded over into the lock seam as shown in Figs. 79. However,

cut-out recess 0 being on either with larger diameter. v 2. A link for use in motor vehicle steering head.

otherlm eans for/making the seam can be used and still come within the purview of my in? The head'portions b of the link vention. are shown seamed together by Welding but obviously other ways might be adopted.

The same construction may also beused between the two steering knuckle-arms to form the connecting'link, hence in the claims I use a title of broader import than drag link. In some cars thereis a universal omtand spring abutment at only one end,

hence in the claims reference is made toonly one end of the link.

In some of the claims I have referred to gear, comprising a single piece stamping formed into a rod portion of triangular cross section lock-seamed together and an integral tubular end portion of greater diameter.

3. A link for use in motor vehicle steering gear, comprising-a single stamping formed into a rod portion having a closed but hollow cross section and an end or head portion of tubular shape with recessesin opposite sidesof the stamping at the head portion to form the opening for the stem and ball of the.

joint. p

4. A link for use in motor vehicle steering ear .com risin a sin le i'ece formed into 3.' rod portion of closed but hollow cross section and a head portion of tubular charao ter the edges of the piece being secured together.

5. A link for use. in motor vehicle steerin gear, comprising a single stamping formed into a rod portion having a polygonal section and an end or head portion of tubular form, said stamping having edges meeting and folded together;

6. A link for use in motor vehicle steering gear, comprising a fiat blank formed up into a rod portion and a head portion, each of hollowcross section, said head portion having projecting ears, and a cap fitting into the end of the head portion and provided with ears to register with the ears of the head portion and which may be removably secured to such ears vof the head portion. u v

7. A link for use in motor vehicle steering ear com IISIIIO a blank formed 11) 1nto b v i: l

a rod portion and a head portion of hollow cross sect1on-,;sa1d head'portion havmgprojecting perforated ears, and a cap in the form of a stamping adapted to be fitted into the end of the head portion and provided with projecting ears having perforations, the

' ears of the cap and the head registering, and

cotter pins passingthrough the perfqrations in said ears to lock the cap into the head.

- 8. A link for use in motor vehicle steering gear, comprising a blank formed up into a rod portion and] a head portion, each of hollow cross section, the head portion being provided with projecting perforated ears folded back upon themselves, and a cap pro videdwith ears projecting from the end of the same, said cap adapted to be fitted into the head with the ears engaging between the folds of the ears-of the' head, and means passing through the folded ears and the ears of the cap for removably securing the cap in the head.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

. FRANK P. WILLIAMS. 

